After 16 years abroad, I moved back to my native Sweden. My husband is Austrian and we met in the US where I lived from 1996-2006, and then we moved to Alp-land aka Austria where we lived til 2013. I am still trying to get over that culture shock.
We have two kids. Vincent, our first born was born on May 12, 2006 with an extra chromosome aka Down syndrome (Translocation 21;21). Edgar was born October 10, 2009, but only 46 chromosomes there.
I admit to thinking it was the end of our world when we got the results of the blood test showing our son had DS, 5 days after Vince was born. I was so wrong! Though everything is not easy, life is a lot of fun! That extra chromosome really did not change much.

I started running again in 2011 and completed my first half marathon in October 2011. In 2012 I completed two half marathons and a handful of other races. Running is now a big part of my life and I run at least five days a week. Both for fun and for peace of mind. I am starting to think a full marathon would be fun. Maybe in 2014...

In the meantime, I think you should go a read a VERY insightful post my friend Michelle wrote yesterday. So click here.

I don think I blogged about this before, but it really annoys me when people tell us ‘Vince is so lucky to have you as parents, I/we could never do what you do’. After we got the diagnoses, it really made me mad. Straight on furious. What the hell did people now about us? Why would we be ‘better’ suited for this? I understand and did back then too, that this was meant as a compliment but it still never felt good. I mean, what were we to do? Of course we love our kids. Both of them. I will go through fire for both of them. Just like most parents would for their kids.
Ok, so we had to suit up and battle a few municipalities, a bunch of stereo types, stay on our toes to defend that Vince can and will do just fine in this society. We have to do this a lot more often maybe, but you would to, if your kid needed it, right? We still have many battles left to fight, many people left to educate, and many new roads to travel, but guess what? so do you with your kids.

But then, there are all the amazing people I have met. People I would never have met if it was not for Vincent. And how much our families and friends have reached out. Spread the word, educated themselves and other around about all the things that matter and when hurtful language have been used they stand up. Regardless if we were there or not. That my friends; are the spreading circles on the water, and that makes me incredibly happy. All this because of one little 4-year-old. That is simply empowering!

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I just posted a question in my comment on Day 15 – how do Sweden and Austria differ in their approaches to special needs issues (therapies, school, financial support, open-mindedness, etc.). And does your decision to move to Sweden have anything to do with it?